West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-08-05
HARPER's FERRY LETTER.
HARpER's FERRY, August /.

better our contributions read In print
than in our manuscripts, THEY too
would tender their gratitude, il, in
deed, any one feels interested in our
effnsions. We all have heard of the
Irishman who was riding fractions
mule and, when the beast got a hOof
entangled in the stirrup, said BE
CORA, if YoU are going to get on |
will get off," And now for the APP
plication. We are sensible of our
shortcomings, but we have grace
enough to bow to superior knowl-
edge, and as there is SOMEBODY who
knows more of current events at
Harper's Ferry than We, or at least
can treat of them in better English
than we command, HE can mount, if
he chooses, and WE will get off very
readily.
A few days age. we read very in
teresting little pamphlet of forty
eight pages entitled sketches of
Foreign Travel" by Col. John Il.
Gibson, of this county. The sketch
es refer altogether to Ireland, thro'
which country the author travelled
in 1888. We have always thought
that Colonel Gibson came as close to
the character of the ideal Virginia
gentleman as any man we have ever
met, and when we have said that we
need not say any more in his praise.
His book does infinite credit TO his
head and heart, for he has treated a
difficult and veXed question with
consummate skill, and he has done
justice to a people the undeserved
abuse of whom appears to be fash
/ ionable with many would-be Pundits
whose dense ignorance is on par
with their impotent malice. Not
only that: he shows very decided
partially for "the Green Island,
for which we tender him our per-
sonal thanks, and we venture to pre-
dict that generations will pass away
beforehis disinterested compliments
are forgotten. We have one fault
and only one to find with the book.
There is not enough of it to satisfy
the craving for more excited by the
polished and scholarly style in
which it is written, and we very SIN
cerely hope to read more, of Colonel
Gibson's writings on the same or
some other subject, for he has COM
pletely captured us and, if he in
tends to launch another book he can
consider us, in advance, subscri-
Der.
We were much gratified, few
days ago, at meeting Mr.. George H.
Leisenring, at one time of this place,
more recently of Charlestown, and
now of Roanoke, Virginia. George
is one of the boys in whom we feel a
pride, for he was our pupil in his
early teens and a great favorite
with us and his school-mates. We
are glad to hear that more than the
promise of his boyhood is being re-
allied in him, as we understand that
he is q young man of indomitable
push and energy, and we need not
be told of his brightness or we
should rather say his great ability.
He has, moreover, what is worth, in
OUR estimation at least, more than
talents or ambition-a big heart
for the way in which he grasped and
squeezed the old mans hand left no
doubt of the warmth of his nature
We wish George every success in
life, for besides our very good will
for himself, we feel that we are en-
titled to some of the credit accrning
to all who have had hand in
moulding so fine character.
Almost every day we have a pic
mic here and we would give them all
some notice if we were not afraid of
the same objection that was made to
Webster's Dictionary by an astute
critic. He said it was very inter
esting book, indeed, but that the
subject was changed too often. We
could give but a very short account
Of each-too brief notice to main
tain any interest we might be fortu-
nate enough to create in them sim
gly. We cannot, however, pass over
one that was held here on last Fri
day, under the auspices of some
German society of Hagerstown, Ma
ryIand. They were lively lads in
deed that attended on that occasion
at least some of them-and like
John Browns men, they tried but
only tried to take our town. The
results were-first blood for Har-
per's Ferry-also the last-a tenant
for Mayor Chambers Bastile and a
few extra dollars for the town eX-
chequer. Sic Semper, DC.
Among our summer visitors this
season we are very glad to see the
Rev. f. w. Andrews, at one time
prominent in army circles here and,
after the close of the war. distin
guished lawyer and journalist of the
neighboring city of Martinsburg.
This gentleman is one of the most
polished orators and most accom-
plished scholars of the day, and his
society is always eagerly sought on
account of the extraordinary grace
and charm of his manners and his